> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Picture-in-Picture (PiP)

> Watch videos in a floating window while using other apps on your Android TV

SmartTube supports Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, allowing you to watch videos in a small floating window while using other apps on your Android TV.

## What is Picture-in-Picture?

<Info>
  Picture-in-Picture lets you continue watching a video in a small window while navigating to other apps or the home screen.
</Info>

PiP mode creates a floating video window that stays on top of other content, allowing you to:

* **Multitask** - Browse other apps while watching
* **Stay informed** - Keep videos playing while checking notifications
* **Background viewing** - Continue watching without the full app interface

<Note>
  Picture-in-Picture is a standard Android feature that SmartTube integrates with. Your TV must support PiP (Android 8.0 Oreo or higher).
</Note>

## Enabling Picture-in-Picture

PiP is not enabled by default. Follow these steps to activate it:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open SmartTube Settings">
    Launch SmartTube and navigate to the **Settings** menu (gear icon).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to General Settings">
    Select **"General"** from the settings menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Background Playback">
    Scroll down to **"Background playback"** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Picture in Picture">
    Toggle on **"Picture in picture"** mode.

    This enables PiP when you press the Home button during video playback.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Optional: Enable on Back Button">
    In the same section, find **"Background playback (activation)"**.

    Enable this to also trigger PiP when you press the **Back** button during playback.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  The setting path is: **Settings > General > Background playback > Picture in picture**
</Tip>

## How to Use Picture-in-Picture

Once enabled, activating PiP is simple:

### Method 1: Home Button (Default)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start Playing a Video">
    Open any video in SmartTube and start playback.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Press Home">
    Press the **Home** button on your remote while the video is playing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Video Enters PiP Mode">
    The video shrinks into a floating window and continues playing while you navigate your TV's home screen or other apps.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Method 2: Back Button (Optional)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable in Settings">
    Make sure you've enabled **"Background playback (activation)"** in Settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Press Back">
    During video playback, press the **Back** button on your remote.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Video Enters PiP Mode">
    The video enters PiP mode instead of going back to the previous screen.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  If you enable PiP activation on the Back button, pressing Back will no longer navigate to the previous screen during playback - it will always trigger PiP instead.
</Warning>

## Controlling PiP Window

Once in PiP mode, you can control the video:

### Playback Controls

* **Play/Pause** - Click on the PiP window
* **Close PiP** - Press the close button (X) on the PiP window
* **Return to Full Screen** - Click on the PiP window and select expand

### Window Position

On most Android TV devices:

* **Move the window** - Use directional buttons to reposition
* **Resize** - Some devices allow resizing (limited support)
* **Corners** - Typically snaps to screen corners

<Note>
  PiP window controls vary by device and Android version. Not all features may be available on your TV.
</Note>

## Use Cases

Picture-in-Picture is perfect for:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Music While Browsing" icon="music">
    Keep music videos or playlists playing while browsing for your next video or using other apps.
  </Card>

  <Card title="News & Live Streams" icon="newspaper">
    Watch news or live streams in the corner while checking other apps or browsing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tutorial Videos" icon="chalkboard-teacher">
    Follow along with tutorials while taking notes or using other apps.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sports Highlights" icon="football">
    Keep sports content playing while checking scores or schedules in other apps.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Podcasts & Talks" icon="podcast">
    Listen to podcasts or talks while doing other tasks on your TV.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Background Entertainment" icon="tv">
    Keep entertainment going while navigating menus or settings.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Configuration Options

### Background Playback Settings

SmartTube offers several background playback configurations:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Picture in Picture (Main Setting)">
    **Location:** Settings > General > Background playback > Picture in picture

    **What it does:** Enables PiP mode when pressing Home during video playback.

    **Recommended:** Enable for PiP functionality
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Background Playback Activation">
    **Location:** Settings > General > Background playback (activation)

    **What it does:** Controls which button triggers PiP mode.

    **Options:**

    * Home button only (default)
    * Back button only
    * Both Home and Back buttons

    **Recommended:** Home button only (to preserve Back button's normal function)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Audio-Only Background Playback">
    **Alternative to PiP:** If you don't want the video window but want audio to continue:

    **Location:** Settings > General > Background playback

    **What it does:** Continues audio playback without a video window when you leave the app.

    **Use case:** Perfect for music or podcasts where you don't need to see the video.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Limitations

<Warning>
  Picture-in-Picture has some limitations depending on your device:
</Warning>

### Device Compatibility

* **Requires Android 8.0+** (Oreo or higher)
* **Not all Android TVs support PiP** - some manufacturers disable it
* **Feature availability varies** by device manufacturer and model

### Functional Limitations

* **Limited window control** - position and size options depend on your TV
* **No quality adjustment** - video quality is maintained from full-screen mode
* **Single window only** - cannot have multiple PiP windows
* **May pause in some apps** - certain apps may interfere with PiP playback

### Performance Considerations

<Note>
  PiP mode requires your TV to:

  * Decode video while running other apps
  * Maintain multiple apps in memory
  * Render the floating window overlay

  Older or less powerful devices may experience performance issues.
</Note>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="PiP mode doesn't activate">
    **Possible causes and solutions:**

    1. **PiP not enabled in SmartTube**
       * Check Settings > General > Background playback > Picture in picture
    2. **Device doesn't support PiP**
       * Verify your TV is running Android 8.0 or higher
       * Some manufacturers disable PiP - check your TV's documentation
    3. **System PiP permissions**
       * Some devices require system-level PiP permission
       * Check TV Settings > Apps > SmartTube > Permissions
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Video stops when entering PiP">
    **Try these solutions:**

    1. **Check background playback settings**
       * Ensure audio background playback isn't conflicting
    2. **Device memory issues**
       * Close other apps to free up RAM
       * Restart SmartTube
    3. **System restrictions**
       * Check if your TV has battery/performance modes that limit PiP
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can't control PiP window">
    **Control options vary by device:**

    1. **Try different buttons**
       * Navigate: D-pad/arrow keys
       * Play/Pause: OK/Select button
       * Close: Back or Menu button
    2. **Device-specific controls**
       * Check your TV's manual for PiP controls
       * Some TVs have dedicated PiP buttons on remote
    3. **Return to full screen**
       * Usually: Click on the PiP window and select expand
       * Or: Reopen SmartTube from launcher
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="PiP window is too small/large">
    **Window size is typically controlled by Android TV:**

    1. **System default size**
       * Most devices use a fixed PiP window size
       * SmartTube cannot override this
    2. **Check TV settings**
       * Some TVs allow PiP size adjustment in system settings
       * Look in Display or Accessibility settings
    3. **Device limitation**
       * Window size may be fixed on your device
       * This is a hardware/OS limitation, not a SmartTube issue
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Back button triggers PiP instead of going back">
    **This is by design if you enabled it:**

    1. **Disable Back button PiP activation**
       * Go to Settings > General > Background playback (activation)
       * Change to "Home button only"
    2. **Use Home button instead**
       * Keep Back button for navigation
       * Use Home button to trigger PiP
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## PiP vs Audio Background Playback

<Info>
  SmartTube offers two types of background playback. Choose based on your needs:
</Info>

| Feature | Picture-in-Picture | Audio Background Playback |
| - | - | - |
| **Video visible** | ✅ Small window | ❌ No video |
| **Audio continues** | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| **Device requirements** | Android 8.0+ | Any version |
| **Performance impact** | Higher | Lower |
| **Best for** | Multitasking with video | Music, podcasts |
| **Screen overlay** | ✅ Floating window | ❌ None |

<Tip>
  For music videos or podcasts where you don't need to see the video, **audio background playback** uses less resources than PiP.
</Tip>

## Frequently Asked Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Does PiP work with all videos?">
    Yes, PiP works with all videos that play in SmartTube, including:

    * Regular videos
    * Live streams
    * Music videos
    * Playlists
    * Age-restricted content (if logged in)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use PiP while gaming on my TV?">
    This depends on your TV and the game. PiP is an Android system feature that should work across apps, but:

    * Some games may pause PiP
    * Performance may suffer with both running
    * Android games typically support PiP
    * Native TV games may not
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does PiP use more battery/power?">
    Yes, PiP uses more resources than audio-only playback because:

    * Video decoding continues
    * Multiple apps run simultaneously
    * Display renders additional layers

    However, on plugged-in TVs, this is rarely a concern.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I adjust PiP quality to save bandwidth?">
    PiP inherits the quality settings from your full-screen playback. The quality doesn't automatically reduce in PiP mode. To save bandwidth:

    * Lower video quality before entering PiP
    * Use audio background playback instead
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why doesn't my TV support PiP?">
    Some Android TV manufacturers disable PiP because:

    * Hardware limitations on older/cheaper models
    * Manufacturer customization choices
    * Regional firmware differences

    Check your TV's system settings or manual for PiP availability.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Tips for Best Experience

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Use with Music" icon="music">
    PiP is perfect for keeping music videos playing while browsing for your next song.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Home Button Only" icon="house">
    Keep Back button PiP disabled to preserve normal navigation behavior.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Close Background Apps" icon="window-close">
    Free up RAM by closing unused apps for better PiP performance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Audio for Podcasts" icon="podcast">
    For podcasts and talks, consider audio background playback instead of PiP to save resources.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  Experiment with PiP to find your preferred workflow! Some users love it for multitasking, while others prefer full-screen focus or audio-only playback.
</Tip>